Coach-mediated team building in youth sports

Abstract

In youth sports, fostering the development of a positive and cohesive team climate is one objective of psychologically oriented training programs for coaches. This article reviews the theoretical and empirical bases for team building as developed within the field of industrial and organizational psychology, as well as attempts that have been made to evaluate the efficacy of team building in both organizational and physical activity contexts. Next, we describe maseaures that can be taken by youth coaches to create 8 positive and enjoyable team atmosphere, drawing upon the empirically derived guidelines found in Coach Effectiveness Training. Finally, we review experimental studies that demonstrate that coach mining can not only improve intrateam attraction, but can also have a variety of related positive outcomes for young athletes, including heightened self-esteem, reduced performance anxiety, and lowered dropout rates.